Derek
The ride slows with us at the top and the fear I sense in Madison has me pulling her closer than what I should. My heart thumps with longing for the woman in my arms, which makes me feel guilty for using Dee in the way I have. Dee actually annoys me, but I think part of that is because I’d rather be spending my time with Madison. It’s wrong and the moment Madison leaves, so does Dee.
We slowly move lower and my arm tightens around Madison, not wanting to let her go. Even when my heart sinks at the sight of Dee, I can’t let her go. Dee hasn’t seen us yet, but Geary has as he moves closer while Dee yaps on. He really has no time for the woman, and but for Madison, neither would I.
I know the moment Madison spots Dee because her withdrawal is noticeable. I want to tell her not to worry about the other woman, but I don’t. By the time it’s our turn to move from the wheel, I take Madison’s arm to make sure she’s steady, and the pain in her gaze when she turns to thank me, hurts.
It hurts a lot.
My eyes follow her as she moves toward Geary while I catch Dee from the corner of my eye moving toward me.
Well, my day with Madison has soon come to an abrupt halt.
The damn woman must have a sixth sense or something because she’d been asking me to accompany her here. I’d kept telling her I was busy, trying to avoid too much contact with her, and secretly, I’d known I wanted to bring Madison instead. I wanted to watch her smile for me the way she does for others, instead of the smile of sadness I seem to receive.
“I thought you had work to do,” Dee says, her eyes moving toward Madison. She pulls her lips together and when she gets no response from me, smiles and shoves her arm through mine. “Why don’t we go and have coffee?”
Madison glares while Geary looks amused at my predicament. The man knows too much for my liking. I turn to Dee. “I promised my son I’d look after Madison, and right now I’m making sure she gets to see the market.” I remove Dee’s hand from my arm. “I’ll see you this evening.”
A sly smile appears on her face. “Yes, you will,” she drawls, looking at Madison.
Geary hides his amusement behind a cough, as I step forward and grab Madison by the elbow.
I mutter, “See you back at the house Geary.” I don’t stop walking until we’re out of sight when I chance a glance over to Madison.
She isn’t as amused as Geary.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt, running my hands through my hair. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” My eyes search Madison’s and the look of longing she’s unable to hide has my heart beating frantically.
I don’t have any trouble in knowing what I want, the only trouble I have is knowing I can’t have her.
Madison swallows hard and turns her face toward the market, but not before I catch the sheen of tears in her eyes. “I should leave now. Let you give the commission to someone else,” she whispers, her voice husky, but there’s a wry smile on her lips when she says, “I’m being stupid, huh? Wanting someone who will never want me in the same way.” She shrugs. “It’s okay. I get it. I wish I didn’t, but I do.”
Madison searches my face, not finding what she was looking for, she makes a move to walk away from me.
“No,” I growl.
Reaching out and catching her around the waist, I pull her against my front. “You’re the only person I know who sees the same as I do when I look out from my home.” I bring my mouth close to her ear. “Feel what you do to me.” I press my groin against her bottom so there is no mistaking my arousal.
“Oh!” she gasps, rubbing against me.
My hands grip her hips to hold her in place while I clamp my teeth together, my body in agony, eager to take what I know we both want. “Now do you know how much I want you?”
She breathes heavily. “Yes.”
“You are a couple of years younger than my son,” I sigh heavily, “which is why we can’t ever do anything about this attraction.” My arms slide around her belly and hold her tightly against me before I kiss the top of her head and release her.
Madison faces me, her eyes caressing over my body, widening when she sees the erection I’m unable to hide. She nervously glances around and then her eyes are back on me. “It hurts living under the same roof.” She licks her lips. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I can’t carry on the way I have been doing.” She takes a step back.
“Madison?”
Shaking her head, she continues, “You have Dee.” She pauses. “Maybe you should be nicer to her.” Her gaze caresses my face and I feel as though it’s for the last time, causing me to panic.
Emotions I’ve long since kept buried rush to the surface as I step into Madison when she turns. Her back to my front. My arms around her waist anchoring her to me, this place and time. “I don’t want you to leave,” I whisper into her ear and feel a shiver working its way through her.
“You know I can’t stay.” She drops her head, so I place a tender kiss to her nape, my arms tightening, refusing to let her go.
“Stay for now,” I beg. “Please, Madison. You’re the only one I trust to bring the paintings to life.” I close my eyes and admit, “I like having you in my home, regardless of how wise it is.”